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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Hawks 112 Timberwolves 87

The overall defensive performance was fine, but given the opposition, the 52 points allowed in the middle two quarters kept things interesting longer than they needed to be with the (presumably) more difficult game in Denver awaiting. Al Horford having to play 40:47 on the heels of playing the final 39:35 in Chicago Saturday night* could be a problem should Joe Smith not return to bolster the post rotation tomorrow night. Horford really did have to play that many minutes as Josh Smith continued to tantalize and befuddle, playing just 20:31 due to foul trouble, but contributing ably (10 points on 6 shots, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) to the Hawks being +19 over that 20:31. That the Hawks weren't +20 while Smith was on the court is down to another technical foul drawn due to petulance.

*Horford played 55 minutes and 3 seconds straight over the two games before resting in the second quarter tonight.

Overall, the frontcourt was productive but not especially efficient (alongside Smith, Horford and Marvin Williams combined for 26 points but on 25 shots while also grabbing 12 of Atlanta's 26 defensive rebounds) while the backcourt combined volume and efficiency. Jamal Crawford led the way with 26 points on 17 shots (in 26:40) while Joe Johnson added 21 on 18 shots (plus 6 assists against no turnovers) and Mike Bibby took advantage of Jonny Flynn* to the tune of 18 points on 11 shots with 6 assists of his own.

*Seriously, Flynn couldn't stay in front of Bibby nor could he be bothered to even look like he was closing out on Bibby's jump shots. Raise an arm, do something, man. Apocryphally, Jamal Crawford was heard to remark, "That kid doesn't try to defend much, does he?"

Kevin Love, even with his left hand wrapped and at less than full fitness playing in just his eleventh game of the season, grabbed 19 rebounds (8 offensive) and scored 15 points deserves mention for Minnesota. He couldn't have done it without Corey Brewer's admirably high-energy but disturbingly jump shot-reliant performance.